Spraying and dusting machine



April 15, 1952 G. w. DAUGHERTY SPRAYING AND nus'rma MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1947 INVENTOR G. J 4 1} ATTORNEY April 1952 G. w. DAUGHERTY 2,593,275

SPRAYING AND DUSTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 x Q h *v g .fi I N I X Q Q 1 1 H if W Y I Q W 1 N N mm W t\ W 3 R .Hll

a Q I "I I I-' m 3 INVENTOR BY Maw I I ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 GQw. DAUGHERTY 2,593,275

SPRAYING AND DUSTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 194'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 TELTE.

INVENTOR WMM ATTO R N EY April 15, 1952 G. w. DAUGHERTY 2,593,275

SPRAYING AND DUSTING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1947 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTO'RNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 SPRAYIN G AND DUSTING MACHINE George Williams Daugherty, Orlando, Fla., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1947, Serial No. 757,295

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a spraying and dusting machine of the type generally set forth in my Patent No. 2,220,082 dated November 5, 1940.

In the said patent I disclose a spraying and dusting machine in which a blast of air is developed over a large area and is directed by suitable vanes and deflectors toward foliage that is to be sprayed or dusted. As will be noted through reference to my patent, I utilize a series of horizontal vanes that may be moved into various positions for contributing direction to the air flow. So long as the vanes are moved relatively short distances, direction will be imparted to the air flow without presenting obstacles to its flow. I have, however, found that if considerable direction is to be imparted to the air blast, it is necessary that the vanes do more than pivot bodily relatively to mounting means, and that better results are obtained through flexing thevanes. I have found further that if the vanes are flexed beyond a predetermined degree, they serve to contract the air stream and to present obstacles to its flow.

It is the object of the present invention to contribute to the art a new and novel vane mounting means whereby vanes may be moved to impart considerable direction to a blast of air while not hindering unduly the flow of the blast of air.

As a feature of my invention,I utilize a series of vanes mounted at the ,end of a tunnel or the like through which a blast of air is generated, all along the general lines set forth in my patent supra, and as described in additional patents covering 'rny. inventions in this field. These vanes are adapted for movement bodily preferably as a, group relatively to the air blast, while simultaneously flexing. In this manner, the vanes contribute considerable direction to the blast of air while not restricting unduly the flow of the air.

As still a further feature of my invention, the vanes are adapted for movement bodily relatively to the air blast, with the said movement Asa movement as the vanes are actuated.

al'As a further feature of the invention, the vanes are adapted for mounting on mounting means adapted for movement relatively tothe air blastso that all the vanes move together, movement being imparted to the vanes by actuating means secured preferably to their forward edges. In this way, the vanes are flexed by the actuating means with the movement of the vanes and the mounting means being effected through the reaction of the vanes themselves. Preferably, by securing control means to the following or rear edges of the vanes, the rate of flexing is controlled and the type of flexing is determined.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the :art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to bev granted me shall be of sufficient breadth to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates a machine in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the exhaust end of what I term the tunnel of my machine through which the air blast moves towards the foliage. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the parts of Fig. 2 in two extreme and opposed posi- .tions. Fig. 5 is an end view of my invention looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig.

2. Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken respectively along lines 66 and 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show in Fig. 1 a machine of the type illustrated and claimed in my application Ser. No. 669,530 filed September 12, 1946, on a spraying and dusting machine. Through suitable means best set forth in the said application, a blast of air is generated in what may be called a tunnel H), the air then flowing through a sheet metal housing II and then past a series of vanes 12. As has already been made apparent, the invention of this application resides particularly in the means utilized for moving the vanes l2 so as to direct the air blast.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 5, .6 and 7, the sheet metal housing ll extends forwardly and is suitably reinforced by structural members I3 and, M so as to support at both sides of the housing H a bearing member be described in detail.

3 I5, the said bearing members being particularly held in position by angular metal brackets l6, preferably welded to the structural angular members l3 and I4. As this point in my description it may be well to set forth that I shall describe a preferred manner of fabricating my invention, but that the structure thereof may be made in many ways and that my invention is not limited to details of construction or to the particular method of fabrication to be set forth.

Rotatably mounted in the right hand bearing member I5 is a stub shaft while similarly rotatably mounted in the left hand bearing member is a stub shaft l8. Pinned at Hi to the stub shaft I7 is a casting to which may be welded a dusting nozzle 2| extending into a narrow open mouth 22 through which dust may be emitted into the air blast flowing past the vanes, I2. As best seen in Fig. l, a suitable pipe 23 extends upwardly terminating at 24 in an elbow connected to the casting 20 for supplying the dusting material. This dust is fed by means that are conventional and therefore need not here A casting 25 similar to casting 20 is secured to the stub shaft l8 at the left side of the machine in Fig. 7 by a bolt 26 and carries also a dusting nozzle 2| to which dust is fed. The bolt 26 also holds secured to the stub shaft I8 a crank lever 21' which as best seen in Figs. 1, 8 and 4, is pivoted at 28 to a lever 29 that through a suitable leverage system is actuated by control lever 30. It is obvious that movement of the control lever 30, manually or otherwise, will rotate the stub shaft |8 through means of the lever 29 and the crank lever 21.

What I term a pipe 3| is pinned at 32 to the stub shaft l8, and at 33 to the stub shaft I1. It is obvious, therefore, that rotation of the stub shaft I8 will effect a consequent rotation of the pipe 3| and a rotation therefore of stub shaft ll and castings 20, 25. It now seems obvious that the lever will therefore rotate not only the dusting nozzles 2| through rotation of the castings 25, 20, but will also effect a rotation of the pipe 3|. Pipe 3| has secured thereto, as through welding or the like, a hollow elbow 34 in communication with a flexible pipe 35, the pipe 35 extending to a tank or the like from which it receives spraying material in a conventional manner. This spraying material is fed to a series of spray nozzles 36 secured to pipe 3| and is issued by the said spray nozzles into the air blast directed by the vanes l2. It is now apparent that since the pipe 3| is rotatable with the dusting nozzles 2|, the several spray nozzles 35 will also be rotatable for positioning in accordance with the positioning of the vanes l2, in a manner hereinafter to be set forth.

The vanes l2 are formed of sheet metal reinforced suitably at the center by strips I21; and at the edges by strips I21) and He. For convenience, the leading edge of each vane l2 will be designated by reference letter L, while the rear or trailing edge will be designated by reference letter T. Each vane is secured somewhat near its center, and where it is reinforced by a strip I2a, to a bracket 3'! extending from a mounting member 38 preferably fabricated from a tube. There is, of course, one mounting member or tube 33 at the right side of the machine as best seen in Fig. 5, and one tube 38 at the left, the tubes being complementary. Each mounting tube 38 is secured as by Welding or the like to a mounting sleeve 39 as best seen in Fig. 7. Actually, I use two tubes at each side welded to the mounting sleeves 39, but acting as one mounting member. The right hand mounting sleeve 39 is freely rotatable on the stub shaft I! while the left hand mounting sleeve 39 is freely rotatable about the stub shaft I8. This feature of the mounting members or tubes 38 being freely rotatable with the vanes |2 on the axis of stub shafts |8 is of importance, as will appear presently.

As is probably best apparent from a study of Figs. 2 and 7, each of the vanes l2 has secured at its forward or leading edge L a strap 40, and passing through each of the straps 40 is a rod 4|. The rods 4| are in turn adapted to traverse a series of holes in opposed flat metal rods 42 and are prevented from movement relatively thereto by cotter pins 43 or the like. The rods 42 are in turn secured to the ends of arms 44 welded to the pipe 3| at 45, as best seen in Fig; 7. Any means may be utilized for pivotally securing the arms 44 to the fiat rods 42, but I prefer to use short pins .46, and cotter pins 48,. ItiS. now apparent that when pipe 3| is rotated by manual lever 30 through the intermediary of the crank lever 21, it will in turn effect rotation of the two arms 44 and the movement of the leading or forward edges L of the several vanes 2.. As the forward or leading edges L of the vanes are moved, there will, of course, be a reaction through the several vanes to the mounting meme bers 38 tending to rotate those members 38 about their bearings 39 on the axis of stub shafts Hi and H. As will be presently indicated, this. tendency of the vanes to move with their bearing members 38 is controlled and limited so as to effect a suitable flexing of the vanes and thereby to contribute the objects of my invention.

The trailing or rear edges T of the several vanes have secured thereto straps similar to the straps 40, and traversing the straps 50 are a series of rods 5|. The said rods 5| extend through suitable holes in opposed fiat rods 52 best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, being suitably seev cured to the said flat rods 52 in the same manner as the several rods 4| are secured to the flat rods 42 earlier described. Obviously, the two flat rods 52 will control the flexing of the series. of vanes. I2 to which they are secured, so that the vanes will flex uniformly. The lowermost rod 5| will not only be secured to the flat rods 52, but will also be secured to a control link 53 so as to connect pivotally the flat rods 52 and control link 53. Control link 53 is in turn pivoted at 54 to the housing Of course, there will be two of these control links 53, one at each side of the machine, as is probably best seen in Fig. 7.

I shall now refer to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 for the purpose of describing just how the several vanes l2 flex when actuated through the pipe 3 "and its arms 44 under the control of the links 53. It willbe well first to refer to Fig. 2 where the vanes |2 are all shown lying in parallel planes with the flat rods 42 and 52 parallel. It will be noted that the dusting nozzles 2| extend outwardly in proper alignment with the vanes and that the spraying nozzles 36 are similarly properly positioned. If

v we now refer to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the pipe 3| has now been rotated approximately from its position of Fig. 2. This movement has been contributed thereto by the crank lever 21 through the lever 30 as I have already set. forth.

The sprayingnozzles 36 are now substantially vertical and the dusting nozzles 2| are similarly placed.

Arms 44' have moved with the pipe 3 and have most vane 12.

lized extending between the plates 56 and the moved the leading edges L of the vanes substantially into" a vertical position parallel to the nozzles 36. This movement of the six central vanes 12 has reacted through the vanes themselves to move the mounting members or tubes 38, the said tubes having rotated through bearing members 39 on the axis of stub shafts l1 and i8. All or the movement that has been im parted to the tubes 38 has been imparted through the reaction of the several vanes l2, the tubes 38 being freely rotatable whereby to move under the pressure exerted by the several vanes as they are flexed. The movement of the forward parts of the vanes 12 has also reacted to move the trailing edges T of the several vanes.

However, the movement of the trailing edges has been controlled so as to flex that portion of each vane between its trailing edge and the portions secured to the mounting members or tubes 38. Thus, the two control links 53 have moved with the flat rods 52, and in the position of Fig. 3 prevent the further movement of the flat rods 52 in the direction of the arrow 55. Therefore, the rear portions of the vanes are now positioned to better accept the air blast and to guide it outwardly of the machine.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated What happens when the deflectors 12 are moved downwardly instead of upwardly. In this position of the parts, the forward portions of the vanes have moved downwardly in the same manner as they moved upwardly in Fig-,3. As to the trailing portions of the vanes, itwill be noticed that they will tend to move upwardly, moving the flat rods 52 upwardly in the direction of the arrow 55a. However, the control links 53 prevent such movement and therefore control the flexing of the vanes so that they are in a position to accept the air blast and to deflect it downwardly. It will, of course, be readily apparent from the drawings that the air blast is at all times well received by the vanes and then directed by the vanes without in any way substantially inhibiting its movement. It will also be apparent that in all positions of the vanes the spraying material is suitably. directed as is also the dusting material.

In order to contain the air blast it may be desirable to secure to each of the mounting members or tubes 38 a plate 55, the two plates then functioning as is quite apparent. It is also highly desirable to secure bellows 51 extending as is seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 from the rear edge of the uppermost vane l2 to the end of the housing H. the lower edge of the housing H and the lower- Similar side bellows 59 are uti structural angular members l3 and I4.

I believe that the operation and construction of my invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I now claim:

1. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, means mounting each of said vanes intermediate the ends thereof for movement bodily as a unit relatively to said tunnel, means for flexing each of said bodily moved vanes whereby better to deflect the blast of air, and means for feeding, spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

A similar bellows 58 is applied between 2. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for movement therewith bodily relatively to said tunnel, flexing means secured to portions of said vanes spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing means whereby those portions ofthe vanes secured to said vane mounting means move relatively to those portions secured to said flexing means to effect a flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding, spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

4. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to portions of said vane-s spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, control means for limiting and controlling the movement of said vane mounting means whereby those portions of the vanes moved by said actuating means move relatively to those portions secured to said vane mounting means to effect a flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding, spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

5. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for movement bodily relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to portions of said vanes spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, flexing means secured to portions of said vanes spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing means whereby those portions of the vanes secured to said vane mounting means move relatively to those portions secured to said flexing means and those portions of the vanes moved by said actuating means move relatively to those portions secured to said vane mounting means, so as to effect a flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

6. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, movably mounted actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes, movably mounted flexing means secured to the trailing edges of said vanes for moving with said trailing edges, means for moving said actuating means and leading edges simultaneously with and relatively to said flexing means and trailing edges whereby to flex said vanes, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

7. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said mounting means on a line between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes, flexing means secured to the trailing edges of said vanes, means for moving said actuating means to flex said vanes, means for simultaneously limiting the movement of said trailing edges and flexing means whereby to control the degree of flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

8. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means at a point between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said vane mounting means whereby the leading edges of said vanes move with said actuating means relatively to those portions secured to said vane mounting means to eflect a flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

9. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air. a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means at a point between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, flexing means secured to the trailing edges'of said vanes, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing means whereby those portions of the vanes secured to said vane mounting means move relatively to the trailing edges secured to said flexing means while the forward edges secured to said actuating means move relatively to the portions secured to said vane mounting means so as to effect a flexing of said vanes while they are moved bodily, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

10. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of parallel vanes extending transversely across the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to the planes in which said vanes lie, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means at a point between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily relatively'to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means through the reaction of said vanes, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said vane mounting means whereby the leading edges of said vanes move with said actuating means relatively to those portions secured to said mounting means to effect a flexing of said vanes, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be ac cepted by said blast of air.

11. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of parallel vanes extending transversely across the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to the planes in which said vanes lie, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means at a point between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes for moving said vanes simultaneously and there-' fore also moving said vane mounting means through the reaction of said vanes, flexing means secured to the trailing edges of said vanes, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing means whereby those portions of the vanes secured to said vane mounting means move relatively to the trailing edges secured to said flexing means while the forward edges secured to said actuating means move relatively to the portions secured to said mounting means to effect a flexing of said vanes while they are moved bodily, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

12. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of 7 air, ,a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means on a line between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily relatively to said tunnel, an actuating'rod secured to the leading edge of each of said vanes for moving all said vanes and therefore also moving said mounting means, flexing means secured to the trailing edges of said vanes, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing means whereby those portions of the vanes secured to said vane mounting means move relatively to the trailing edges secured to said flexing means while the forward edges secured to said actuating rod move relatively to the portions secured to said vane mounting means to effect a flexing of said vanes while they are moved bodily, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

13. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel, means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means on a line between said leading and trailing edges for movement bodily relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to the leading edges of said vanes for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said mounting means through the reaction of said vanes, a flexing rod secured to the trailing edge of each of said vanes, control means for controlling and limiting the movement of said flexing rod whereby those portions of the vanes secured to said mounting means move relatively to the trailing edges secured to said flexing rod while the forward edges secured to said actuating means move relatively to the portions secured to said mounting means to effect a flexing of said vanes while they are moved bodily, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

14. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means movably mounted at the end of said tunnel, a nozzle support relatively to which said vane mounting means are movable, said nozzle support extending parallel" with said vanes transversely of the tunnel, means mounting said nozzle support for rotation, spray nozzles carried by said nozzle support, means securing said vanes to said mounting means for movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, and means for flexing said bodily moved vanes while simultaneously rotating said nozzle support.

15. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel, a hollow pipe on which said vane mounting means are pivoted, said pipe extending parallel with said vanes transversely of the tunnel, means mounting said pipe for rotary movement relatively to said tunnel, spray nozzles extending from said pipe, means securing said vanes to said mounting means for pivotal movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to portions of said vanes spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, and means secured to said pipe and said actuating means for rotating said pipe and simultaneously moving said vanes through said actuating means.

16. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for deflecting the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, vane mounting means pivotally mounted relatively to said tunnel, a nozzle support, means mounting said nozzle support for rotary movement relatively to said tunnel, spray nozzles carried by said nozzle support, means for supplying spraying material to said nozzles, means securing said vanes to said mounting means for pivotal movement bodily therewith relatively to said tunnel, actuating means secured to portions of said vanes spaced from the means securing said vanes to said vane mounting means for moving said vanes and therefore also moving said vane mounting means, and means secured to said nozzle support and said actuating means for rotating said nozzle support and simultaneously moving said vanes through said actuating means.

17. In a spraying and dusting machine, an air tunnel through which is generated a blast of air, a series of vanes at the end of the tunnel for defletcing the blast of air angularly relatively to its generated flow direction, said vanes having each a leading edge and a trailing edge, vane mounting means pivoted at the end of said tunnel, means mounting said vanes on said vane mounting means for pivotal movement bodily therewith, bellows extending between the outer edges of certain of said vanes and the end surfaces of the tunnel, and means for feeding spraying or dusting material to be accepted by said blast of air.

GEORGE WILLIAMS DAUGHERTY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Daugherty Oct. 5, 1943 Number 

